modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

A

alphadog808

New member
Hey guys,
I was looking at the seymour duncan booster pedal but didn't like how the default "on" is +6db. I read you can mod the pot with a larger one, (50k reverse audio taper, I believe) and it will cut the default to +3db. Anyone know if you can go with an even larger pot like 75 or 100k, to get the default to be 0db/no boost?

It seemed like alot of people were interested in being able to start with 0db boost, but I didn't see anyone try a larger pot to remedy the problem. Made me think that maybe it might screw up the tone with such a large pot. Note, I wouldn't be going even close to 24db(max) so if I were to lose some volume on the top end, it's not a biggie.
 
Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

Hey thanks for that! I'm not really toooo electrically inclined so I'm hoping someone who has done the mod and knows it works can chime in. But I'll check the schematic! Thanks!
 
Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

Well, I got the answer from the man, Frank Falbo...he said that you can't go below 3db without getting oscillation, so right now 3db is the lowest you can go...for now...;)
 
Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

dvadneau said:
What is the point of 0dB "boost"? Why would you want that?
Click to expand...

I've heard more than one person say an immediate 6db boost is too much sometimes. I can see how that can happen especially if your amp is already set to a lower volume(or very high volume). Note, this is when it's in the effects loop, not in front of the amp.

I guess most people are used to effects usually starting at 0 and they can tweak from there.
 
Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

I've had one of those pedals since they first came out, and I can say that the "zeroed" 6 dB is effectively no boost at all in any "real" situation. Or at least effectively enough that I'd imagine a change to 3 dB would be imperceptible from 6 dB. I'd just leave it as is and worry more about replacing the crap components that are used in the SD pedals, especially that foot switch. I like the sounds that SD pedals make, but the foot switches have been terrible IME. They've crapped out on all three of the SD pedals I've owned.
 
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Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

ItsaBass said:
I've had one of those pedals since they first came out, and I can say that the "zeroed" 6 dB is effectively no boost at all in any "real" situation. Or at least effectively enough that I'd imagine a change to 3 dB would be imperceptible from 6 dB. I'd just leave it as is and worry more about replacing the crap components that are used in the SD pedals, especially that foot switch. I like the sounds that SD pedals make, but the foot switches have been terrible IME. They've crapped out on all three of the SD pedals I've owned.
Click to expand...
Where did you have it in your effects chain? Also is it easy to swap out the footswitch? I figure it's a regular ol' pot like on the guitar...
 
Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

ItsaBass said:
I've had one of those pedals since they first came out, and I can say that the "zeroed" 6 dB is effectively no boost at all in any "real" situation. Or at least effectively enough that I'd imagine a change to 3 dB would be imperceptible from 6 dB. I'd just leave it as is and worry more about replacing the crap components that are used in the SD pedals, especially that foot switch. I like the sounds that SD pedals make, but the foot switches have been terrible IME. They've crapped out on all three of the SD pedals I've owned.
Click to expand...

I replaced quite a few bad switches for forum members when that pedal came out.. ;o)
 
Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

alphadog808 said:
Where did you have it in your effects chain? Also is it easy to swap out the footswitch? I figure it's a regular ol' pot like on the guitar...
Click to expand...

I tried it in a few places. I ended up just keeping it up front, after the tuner. Then a treble booster, sometimes a tube overdrive, and then a tremolo. But I don't use a complex pedal chain, so I don't know if that position will work well for everyone.

The switch is easy to change out if you can do basic soldering. I think it might cost you 10 to 15 bucks or so for a better part. The guy who posted above will obviously know how to direct you to a better quality part. I am partial to Honeywell switches, but I don't know if they make that type. I got my replacements from Mojo Music.

Make sure you keep an eye on the slide switch too ("resonance"). Mine needs constant spraying with tuner cleaner to keep it from acting up.

I haven't replaced the pot on mine, but I'd like to some day. It looks cheap, and it also needs spraying every once and a while.
 
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Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

so..I got the pedal yesterday, and as I suspected, the 6db boost is pretty large. Remember, this is in the loop, when it's outside of the loop, it's not a big deal. So, I guess I'm looking for a 50k reverse audio taper pot...otherwise, the pedal does what it advertises.
 
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Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

I think the issue is not sop much with the pedal, but where you have placxed it in your signal chain. They are designed to crank your signal so the preamps are overdiven, they do their best work between your guitar and preamp, not between your preamp and power amp. They are also generally made for instrument level impedance rather than laine level impedance which is the standard in fx loops.
I think a graphic eq is a better option if you want a level increase via your fx loop.
 
Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

gibson175 said:
I think the issue is not sop much with the pedal, but where you have placxed it in your signal chain. They are designed to crank your signal so the preamps are overdiven, they do their best work between your guitar and preamp, not between your preamp and power amp. They are also generally made for instrument level impedance rather than laine level impedance which is the standard in fx loops.
I think a graphic eq is a better option if you want a level increase via your fx loop.
Click to expand...

Ditto. It's a pickup booster, not a preamp booster.
 
Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

gibson175 said:
I think the issue is not sop much with the pedal, but where you have placxed it in your signal chain. They are designed to crank your signal so the preamps are overdiven, they do their best work between your guitar and preamp, not between your preamp and power amp. They are also generally made for instrument level impedance rather than laine level impedance which is the standard in fx loops.
I think a graphic eq is a better option if you want a level increase via your fx loop.
Click to expand...

Well, I had a Boss GE-7 EQ in there, and to be honest, it sounded *terrible*. I mean, when I turned it on with all the freq sliders at 0 it had alot of coloration on the tone. It seemed like it cancelled out all the warmness. Very harsh. Like so bad, I didn't use it when it was solo time...:cussing:

I was debating on this or the bbe boosta grande as they both got good reviews as a clean boost in the loop(and outside). But like a few readers mentioned, the boost can be too much; oh wells, I have a 50k pot on the way...;)
 
Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

alphadog808 said:
Well, I got the answer from the man, Frank Falbo...he said that you can't go below 3db without getting oscillation, so right now 3db is the lowest you can go...for now...;)
Click to expand...

A bit of a noob here....is 3db then half the boost of 6db....to the human ear? How do you achieve that....? Seems there are surface mount components so I'd need a method someone with basic soldering skills could achieve.....

Thanks,
Andy :)
 
Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

change out the pot to a 50k reverse taper
 
Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

So, my only component store didn't have or know what reverse log pot was - but I guess they are generalists covering a lot of areas (Maplins). I found a graph online to show them.

pots-f4.gif

It's clear how log and anti-log differ.

Anyhow, I also found another discussion somewhere suggesting that connecting a 200k resistor across the outer two lugs of a 100k pot would give me a profile closer to an anti-log pot.

I'm not sure right now whether to just put the 100k linear pot in and see how it reacts or whether to put the resistor across the lugs.....what do you guys think?

Cheers,
Andy
 
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Re: modding the seymour duncan booster pedal

alphadog808 said:
Well, I had a Boss GE-7 EQ in there, and to be honest, it sounded *terrible*. I mean, when I turned it on with all the freq sliders at 0 it had alot of coloration on the tone. It seemed like it cancelled out all the warmness. Very harsh. Like so bad, I didn't use it when it was solo time...:cussing:

I was debating on this or the bbe boosta grande as they both got good reviews as a clean boost in the loop(and outside). But like a few readers mentioned, the boost can be too much; oh wells, I have a 50k pot on the way...;)
Click to expand...

Never tried a Boss GE-7, but the MXR 10 band EQ is great. No complaints at all in the past 4-5 years of using it in the efx loop.
 
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